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CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE Wide sidedecks provide access to the bow and forward seating area; With the aft bulkhead
open, the saloon makes an inviting alfresco dining area; The flybridge cockpit provides commanding views under sail; A delivery
along the French coastline provided plenty of opportunity to fully test the Bali 5.4.C
ruising catamarans are one of the
strongest growth sectors in boating right
now for some good reasons, which include
spaciousness and stability. This has prompted
many new offerings but some yards have been
building cats for longer than others; Catana
being one such manufacturer. The latest of these
unashamedly comfortable cruisers – that comes
in both power and sail versions – is the 5.4 yacht.
This flagship model is aimed at motorboaters as
well as sailing enthusiasts because its vast 55-foot
hull packs a lot in, including both foredeck and
covered aft cockpits.CONSIDER A CAT
Among the features of catamarans are their two
engines, which are located farther apart than
an equivalent monohull, giving them incredible
manoeuvrability and inbuilt redundancy. This can
blur the lines between sailing and power versions.
The catamaran design equation is further tweaked
by the creation of flybridges, as found on the
Bali 5.4 and several others from market leaders
Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot, which compromises
some stability by elevating the sailing rig even
higher. However, given the modest sail areas and
the easy ability to reef, this is understandably a
popular design which creates three levels of living
space; something I experienced in full during a
two day voyage on the Bali 5.4.